It will be a while before the game of poker will be introduced as an Olympic game, till then it will have to do with being recognized as a game of skill by the IOC, This new development is said to take place in April.
Games such as chess, bridge and Go are all games of skill and are recognized by the International Olympic Committee and this also adds in the opportunity that poker could also be included in the Olympic skill set.
For the inaugural World Mind Sports Games, the IMSA had played a vital role and these games were hosted in Beijing just two months after 2008 Olympics, and was also due to be held in other cities that would host the Olympic.
According to Rich Muny who is in the board of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) says, “I am encouraged that the IOC has recognized what we poker players have always known. Poker is an honorable game of skill.”
He even went on to say, ‘Many states in the USA have already legally codified recognition of the fact that competitions based on skill are different from wagering on dice or other events based on chance..”
“I believe this decision will encourage more states to recognize this distinction legally.”
There will be a lot of hurdles that Poker will have to cross incase it has to be recognized by the IOC. Here’s hoping that it happens sometime soon.